From Beach Discovery to Global Ukulele Community

Uke Like The Pros was born out of a simple yet powerful idea: that the ukulele can bring joy, connection, and inspiration to people everywhere.

The journey began in 2015, years after founder Terry Carter had already launched his successful guitar education site, Rock Like The Pros. While surfing at Bolsa Chica Beach in Huntington Beach, California, Terry and a friend, Alex, would play guitar on the sand after catching waves. One day Alex brought along a ukulele---and that changed everything.

Terry remembered he had an old ukulele tucked away at home. Though it was inexpensive and he didn't even know how to tune it, he brought it to the beach the next day. Almost immediately, something magical happened: people stopped, listened, and stayed to hear more. The ukulele wasn't just an instrument---it was an invitation to community, joy, and connection.

Meet Terry Carter - The Educator Behind the Platform

Terry Carter is a San Diego-based musician, surfer, songwriter, and creator of ukelikethepros.com, rocklikethepros.com, and terrycartermusicstore.com. With over 30 years as a professional musician, educator, and Los Angeles studio musician, Terry brings world-class expertise to ukulele education.

Professional Music Career

Terry's impressive career spans collaborations with music industry legends:

• Weezer
• Josh Groban
• Robby Krieger (The Doors)
• 2-time Grammy winning composer Christopher Tin (Calling All Dawns)
• Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses)
• Grammy winning producer Charles Goodan (Santana/Rolling Stones)
• Los Angeles Philharmonic

Media & Content Creation Excellence

Terry has written and produced tracks for major commercials (Discount Tire and Puma) and television shows, including Scorpion (CBS), Pit Bulls & Parolees (Animal Planet), Trippin', Wildboyz, and The Real World (MTV).

As an educator and content creator, Terry has:

• Self-published over 20 books for Uke Like The Pros and Rock Like The Pros
• Filmed over 50 ukulele and guitar online courses
• Generated millions of views across his social media platforms

Educational Foundation

Terry holds a Master of Music in Studio/Jazz Guitar Performance from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music from San Diego State University, with emphasis in Jazz Studies and Music Education.

His teaching experience spans prestigious institutions:

• University of Southern California
• San Diego State University
• Santa Monica College
• Miracosta College
• Los Angeles Trade Tech College

The First Ukulele Course

At the time of his beach discovery, Terry was preparing to travel to Kentucky to film guitar courses. Inspired by that magical moment at the beach, he decided to quickly create his first ukulele course. With the help of a friend who loaned him a high-quality Hawaiian-made ukulele, Terry filmed what became Master the Ukulele 1.

In 2016, Terry launched the official Uke Like The Pros website. Like many new ventures, it didn't take off right away. Determined to make it work, Terry studied marketing and committed to building a true community. He began doing live videos every single day for nine months straight---even on weekends and holidays---sometimes at the beach, sometimes from his college classroom, and even with his twin babies in the background. Slowly but surely, the Uke Like The Pros community started to grow.

Growing Into a Global Ukulele Community

Since those early days, Uke Like The Pros has expanded into one of the largest and most trusted online ukulele learning platforms in the world. The site now offers:

• Over 40 professional ukulele courses for all levels (including courses for baritone ukulele, guitarlarlele, and Ekolu)
• Weekly live lessons (every week since 2017!)
• Specialized classes for beginners, Hawaiian ukulele, baritone ukulele, and more
• Guest instructors and world-class workshops
• Two successful Uke Like The Pros festivals

In addition to courses, Uke Like The Pros has built a strong presence across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (Twitter), sharing daily ukulele content with a worldwide audience.

Why Learn with Uke Like The Pros?

• Professional Musician-Led -- Learn from Terry Carter, with 30+ years of professional music experience and collaborations with Grammy winners
• University-Level Education -- Benefit from Terry's Master's degree in music and extensive teaching experience at top institutions
• Proven Teaching Method -- Courses developed by someone who has taught at USC, SDSU, and other prestigious colleges
• Studio Experience -- Learn from a musician who has worked in Los Angeles studios with industry legends
• Authentic Community -- Built through Terry's daily commitment to live videos and genuine student engagement
• Comprehensive Learning -- From beginner basics to advanced Hawaiian techniques and baritone ukulele

Connecting Education with Instruments

In time, Terry expanded the vision by integrating Uke Like The Pros with Terry Carter Music Store---a premier destination for ukuleles, guitars, and other instruments. This allows students not only to learn through online lessons but also to purchase the best instruments and gear for their journey, all backed by Terry's professional expertise in selecting quality instruments.

The Mission

From the very first strum on the beach to today's thriving global platform, Uke Like The Pros remains committed to one mission:

To inspire, educate, and support the ukulele community while spreading the joy of music to all.

With Terry's decades of professional music experience, Grammy-winning collaborations, and university-level teaching expertise, Uke Like The Pros offers more than just lessons---it provides access to world-class musical education from someone who has lived and breathed music at the highest levels.